Posted February 2025
Summary
Pierce County is the second most populous county in the state based on the 2020 census. Tacoma is the county seat and largest city. Pierce County’s economy is supported by various industries, including aerospace, health care, logistics and technology. Its government sector is bolstered by Joint Base Lewis-McChord which is the sector’s largest employer. Pierce County is also home to the Port of Tacoma, the sixth busiest container port in North America and one of the 25 busiest in the world.
The county is a regional component of the Puget Sound economy. Its proximity to King County gives Pierce County residents access to the labor market in both counties. Today, 25% to 30% of workers residing in Pierce County commute to King County for work.
Location
Pierce County is located at the southern basin of Puget Sound, and shares contiguous boundaries with six counties: King, Thurston, Kitsap, Mason, Lewis, and Yakima. Formed out of Thurston County in 1852 by the legislature of the Oregon territory, it was named for U.S. President Franklin Pierce. The county is a mix of old and newly incorporated cities, growing unincorporated areas, large-scale federal military installations, and rural areas.
Pierce County is part of the three-county Seattle Tacoma Bellevue MSA and as a subset of the MSA is the Tacoma-Lakewood Metropolitan Division
Employment situation for December 2024
Labor force and unemployment
- The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Pierce County was 5.4% in December 2024, up from 5.1% in November and down from 5.5% 12 months ago.
- The labor force declined over the year, losing 20,067 participants (down 4.5%).
Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Local area unemployment statistics
Payroll employment
- Total nonfarm employment increased by 1,200 from November 2024 to December 2024.
- Overall, employment growth continues but is slowing.
- Over the month, employment increased in six major industry sectors, decreased in three and was unchanged in four. The largest increases were in leisure and hospitality. The deepest losses were shared equally by professional and business services, and government.
- From December 2023 to December 2024, total nonfarm employment expanded by 2,200 or 0.6%
- Over the course of the year, employment in seven major industries expanded, five contracted and one was unchanged.
- Of the industry sectors, employment in education and health services, and government expanded to the greatest extent while professional and business services experienced the deepest one-year losses.
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Pierce County
| NAICS Industry Title | Dec 2024 (Preliminary) | Nov 2024 (Revised) | Dec 2023 (Revised) | Nov 2024 to Dec 2024 change | Dec 2023 to Dec 2024 change | Dec 2023 to Dec 2024 % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Nonfarm | 344,800 | 343,600 | 342,600 | 1,200 | 2,200 | 0.6% |
| Total Private | 283,700 | 282,200 | 282,600 | 1,500 | 1,100 | 0.4% |
| Goods Producing | 42,500 | 42,600 | 42,300 | -100 | 200 | 0.5% |
| ---Mining and Logging | 300 | 300 | 300 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| ---Construction | 25,400 | 25,400 | 25,500 | 0 | -100 | -0.4% |
| ---Manufacturing | 16,800 | 16,900 | 16,500 | -100 | 300 | 1.8% |
| Service Providing | 302,300 | 301,000 | 300,300 | 1,300 | 2,000 | 0.7% |
| -------Wholesale Trade | 13,500 | 13,500 | 13,700 | 0 | -200 | -1.5% |
| -------Retail Trade | 37,500 | 37,200 | 37,700 | 300 | -200 | -0.5% |
| -------Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities | 22,000 | 21,700 | 21,900 | 300 | 100 | 0.5% |
| ---Information | 2100 | 2000 | 2000 | 100 | 100 | 5.0% |
| ---Financial Activities | 14,900 | 14,900 | 14,400 | 0 | 500 | 3.5% |
| ---Professional and Business Services | 38,000 | 38,300 | 39,500 | -300 | -1,500 | -3.8% |
| ---Educational and Health Services | 65,400 | 65,200 | 62,900 | 200 | 2,500 | 4.0% |
| ---Leisure and Hospitality | 34,200 | 33,300 | 35,000 | 900 | -800 | -2.3% |
| ---Other Services | 13,600 | 13,500 | 13,200 | 100 | 400 | 3.0% |
| ---Government | 61,100 | 61,400 | 60,000 | -300 | 1,100 | 1.8% |
Note: Data benchmarked through June 2024, updated Jan. 16, 2024. Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Industry employment (covered employment)
Employment in government services makes up roughly 22% of all total nonfarm employment in Pierce County. Joint Base Lewis-McChord figures prominently, particularly through the proportion of federal workers employed. Emerald Queen Casino, which is classified within local government, is also a large employer in the area.
Pierce County serves as a regional provider of health care for the South Puget Sound. MultiCare Health System and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health are the largest providers of health care across the county.
Construction employment is important in Pierce County. Housing development has grown into local suburbs that offers a lower cost alternative for commuters to King County. The continual need to upgrade and modernize facilities at the military base also helps support residential construction activity and military contract work for the construction industry.
Employment by industry, Pierce County 2023 annual average
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Average annual covered employment in Pierce County was 330,904 in 2023. Covered employment refers to workers who received wages in Washington state and are eligible for state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) compensation programs.
Top five sectors in terms of employment in 2023:
- Government (58,671)
- Health care and social assistance (54,778)
- Retail trade (36,867)
- Accommodation and food services (29,482)
- Administrative and waste management services (24,768)
Wages can vary substantially from one industry sector to another. The average annual wage in Pierce County for all industries was $66,977 in 2023.
The top five sectors in terms of wage in 2023:
- Utilities ($120,194)
- Finance and insurance ($98,559)
- Information ($97,354)
- Utilities ($96,721)
- Real estate and rental and leasing ($95,594)
Workforce demographics for Pierce County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 11,508 | 47.0% | 6.7% |
| 16 to 19 years | 558 | 45.5% | 22.0% |
| 20 to 24 years | 828 | 62.8% | 8.5% |
| 25 to 29 years | 533 | 86.5% | 5.2% |
| 30 to 34 years | 701 | 70.8% | 4.8% |
| 35 to 44 years | 1,309 | 79.8% | 6.6% |
| 45 to 54 years | 1,523 | 71.0% | 6.4% |
| 55 to 59 years | 1,230 | 50.1% | 4.9% |
| 60 to 64 years | 1,097 | 45.5% | 9.4% |
| 65 to 74 years | 2,417 | 16.6% | 0.0% |
| 75 years and over | 1,312 | 2.7% | 0.0% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 10,147 | 45.1% | 7.0% |
| Black or African American alone | 17 | 29.4% | 0.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 210 | 43.3% | 3.3% |
| Asian alone | 46 | 15.2% | 0.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone | 25 | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Some other race alone | 195 | 53.3% | 0.0% |
| Two or more races | 868 | 69.2% | 6.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 405 | 44.7% | 15.5% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 10,079 | 45.3% | 7.0% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 7,221 | 65.4% | 6.5% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 3,712 | 71.1% | 9.0% |
| Female | 3,509 | 59.2% | 3.4% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 | 1,039 | 68.2% | 1.7% |
| With own children under 6 only | 253 | 83.8% | 1.4% |
| With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 | 176 | 63.6% | 0.0% |
| With own children 6 to 17 only | 610 | 63.1% | 2.3% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 1,201 | 37.1% | 19.5% |
| At or above the poverty level | 5,970 | 71.6% | 5.1% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 1,302 | 30.3% | 8.4% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 6,393 | 65.7% | 6.3% |
| Less than high school graduate | 336 | 39.3% | 5.3% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 2,294 | 65.5% | 10.2% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 2,586 | 66.6% | 3.4% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,177 | 71.5% | 5.1% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status
Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for more quick facts about Pierce County.
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